Colour Changing Leather or Vinyl

If you are reading this because you are NOT changing the colour of you leather, but looking to use Extra Concentrate Repair Dye as a base for heavily stained leather which you are looking to keep the same colour then please refer to Section 2, Example 2.

Colour Changing Leather or Vinyl
Please insure you have read and understood “Cleaning & Preparing Leather or Vinyl” before you attempt to apply colour.
The process for colour changing leather or vinyl is very similar. The only differences being is that you do not use Conditioner on vinyl.

Section 1 will cover the colour changing of Leather or Vinyl.

Section 2 will cover the use of Extra Concentrate Repair dye

Please read both sections fully to enable you to come to a decision on the best way for you to colour change your leather or vinyl.

**Important**
Water
If your intention is to have NO dye left after colouring then you can use tap water.
If your intention is to keep dye that has been mixed with water for a prolonged period (4+months, not including Extra Concentrate Repair dye) for future use, then we strongly suggest you use distilled water or similar.
Impurities in tap water when mixed with dye and stored for longer periods can result in the dye “turning” rendering it useless.
Or, you can just mix what you require, removing the need to acquire distilled water.

Section 1

Colour Changing Leather or Vinyl
Dyes will adhere to leather excellently without the use of EP, but we would always recommend using it as an “insurance policy”.

You MUST use EP when colour changing vinyl. Failure to do so will result in the colour change failing.

Extra prep (EP)
EP 1&2 are mixed together and applied onto leather or vinyl, either with a sponge, spraying or both. EP provides a solid foundation onto which the dye is applied.

Process
A. Wipe over with BL16 Degreaser and dry. This will dry and will not leave a residue. Once you have dried BL16 off then your leather/ vinyl will be in its cleanest state.

B. Mix and apply EP (extra Prep), this can be sponged on or sprayed. Do not dilute this product with water. EP Mixing ratios document can be downloaded from our instructions page. Apply first coat of EP and dry. Once dry, apply a second coat of EP and dry. EP will stay slightly tacky which is what you want. The application of dye onto EP must be done with 2 hours. If you are going to dye a full interior in one go then it is best, you apply EP to all parts and then apply at least one coat of dye on top of the EP. Then you can concentrate on one part without worrying about the rest of the interior.

Applying one coat of dye after EP ensures that the dye has excellent grip to the material after which you will be applying dye on top of dye. If you run out of time and want to continue the next day then because you have applied one coat of dye over EP you can do this. If you applied EP on NO coats of dye and decided to continue the next day (or after 2 hours) then you will need to start over again and mix/apply EP.

Refer to C (then move on to D) if you are colour changing leather NOT vinyl, if you are colour changing vinyl move straight to point D

C. Dyes are water based and mixed with water for when you look to recolour your seats. There are a few instances when you will use neat dye. These areas are when the original colour has completely worn away. Applying neat dye reduces the number of coats on these areas and gives a good key for when subsequent diluted coats are applied.

So, before you mix your dye, apply neat dye (with a sponge) onto areas where the original colour has been removed, heavy wear, deep scratches, light marks and areas that are cracked. The seat may look a bit of a patchwork of colour but what you are doing is isolating and preparing heavier warn areas for when you dilute and apply dye to the rest of the leather.

D. Mix dye with 30% water and filter into a clean container.
If you do not have filter paper then you can stretch some tights over a container and pour the dye through this.
The first coat of dye that you will apply will be light, you may not see much change but it’s what you cannot see that is the good part.
Dry the first coat and then on the second coat you can apply more dye. With lighter colours you will need to apply more coats than if you were applying darker colours. (remember this when ordering colours)
In-between each coat, dry with a hairdryer and repeat until you get a uniform finish.
Spraying dye is the best way to get a factory matt finish.

E. Leave the dye and leather/vinyl to cool. Once cooled, if you lightly rub your hand over the finished surface and it feels a little gritty then you can use some 800 wet and dry sand paper (use dry NOT wet) and lightly sand. Wipe the sanding dust off with a damp cloth, dry and apply one last coat.

The dye MUST dry and cool before you sand with 800 grit. If you do this whilst still warm the dye can be removed.

F. If you want to add an extra layer of wear protection, then you can apply BL9 Super Matt sealer or for gloss BL10 Gloss sealer. Again, mix with 30% water and use the same technique as when applying the dye and we advise filtering the sealer. For a satin finish add small amounts of BL10 Gloss sealer with BL9 Super Matt until the desired finish is achieved.

For the ultimate in surface protection, you can use TCP (Top Coat Protection). A two-part mixture that must be applied within 3 hours of mixing. There is no need to filter TCP prior to spray application.

You cannot condition leather after dye has been applied for at least 6 to 8 months and there is no need to condition vinyl as it is pointless.

To Summarise (in stages):
1. See Cleaning and preparation Leather or Vinyl
2. BL16 degrease
3. EP (Extra Prep)
4. Dye

Section 2

Extra Concentrate Repair Dye

Bespoke Leathering only use Extra Concentrate Repair Dye as a colour accelerant.
We recommend that Extra Concentrate Repair Dyes are sprayed on. If you want to apply Extra Concentrate Repair Dye using a sponge, then please refer to “Application of Dye Using a sponge” this can be found on our instruction page.

• Extra Concentrate Repair Dyes colour cannot be use for as a “finish” for touching in small marks and scratches.
• The shelf life for Extra Concentrate Repair Dyes is 6 months.
• Once Extra Concentrate Repair Dye has been applied, you must seal with sealer (this is supplied with Extra Concentrate Repair Dye when purchased)
• Extra Concentrate Repair Dye is used in conjunction with the standard repair dyes.

Extra Concentrate Repair Dye has more pigment in it than the standard dyes. This means that if you are changing colour or recolouring very heavily stained leather, you can reduce the number of coats you apply to get a uniform finish.

Example 1: (changing to a different colour)

If you were to change black leather to white you will end up applying a lot of coats of white dye to get a uniform finish. If Extra Concentrate Repair Dye is used, you can reduce the number of coats applied by up to half. This not only saves time but also reduces the thickness of dye applied to the leather. You do not have to achieve full coverage, but take the edge of the colour your trying to hide so that when you apply the finished colour you use less coats to get that finish.

Extra Concentrate Repair Dye does not have to be the exact same colour as the finish colour. If its similar it will be good enough for when you apply the finish colour dye.

Example 2: (not changing to a different colour)
If you have an interior that is heavily stained or over time has areas that are a lot darker than the original colour, then we recommend the application of Extra Concentrate Repair Dye. Not just creams and champagnes, but also reds and tans.

If you chose this method, then the process for application would be.

1. See Cleaning and preparation Leather or Vinyl
2. BL16 degreaser
3. EP (Extra Prep)
4. Extra Concentrate Repair Dye + Sealer
5. Repair Dye

Process
G. Wipe over with BL16 Degreaser and dry. This with dry and will not leave a residue. Once you have dried BL16 off then your leather/ vinyl will be in its cleanest state.

H. Mix and apply EP (extra Prep) this can be sponged on or sprayed. Do not dilute this product with water. EP Mixing ratios document can be downloaded from our instructions page. Apply first coat of EP and dry. Once dry apply second coat of EP and dry. EP will stay slightly tacky which is what you want. The application of dye onto EP must be done with 2 hours. If you are going to dye a full interior in one go then it is best you apply EP to all leather and then apply at least one coat of dye on top of the EP. Then you can concentrate on one part without worrying about the rest of the interior.
Applying one coat of dye after EP ensures that the dye has excellent grip to the Leather after which you will be applying dye on top of dye. If you run out of time and want to continue the next day then because you have applied one coat of dye over EP you can do this. If you applied EP on NO coats of dye and decided to continue the next day (or after 2 hours) then you will need to start over again and mix/apply EP.

**Refer to point I (before continuing to point J) only if you are colour changing leather NOT vinyl, if you are colour changing vinyl move straight to point J**

I. Extra Concentrate Repair Dye are water based and mixed with water for when you look to accelerate the colour change on your seats. There are a few instances when you will use Extra Concentrate Repair Dye neat. These areas are when the original colour has been completely warn away. Apply neat dye reduces the number of coats on these areas and give a good key for when subsequent diluted coats are applied.

So, before you mix your dye, apply neat dye onto areas where the original colour has been removed, heavy wear, deep scratches, light marks and areas that are cracked. What you are doing is isolating and preparing heavier warn areas for when you dilute and apply dye to the rest of the leather.

J. Mix dye with 30% water and filter into a clean container.
If you do not have filter paper then you can stretch some tights over a container and pour the dye through this.
The first coat of dye that you will apply will be light, you may not see much change but it’s what you cannot see that is the good part.
Dry the first coat and then on the second coat you can apply more dye. With lighter colours you will need to apply more coats than if you were applying darker colours. (remember this when ordering colours)

*The difference between Extra Concentrate Repair Dyes and the standard repair dye is that Extra Concentrate Repair Dyes do not dry matt, they stay glossy and a little tacky until a sealer is applied. *
Apply and dry subsequent coats until you get the initial colour change that you are happy with

K. Mix the sealer that is supplied with the Extra Concentrate Repair Dye with 30% water. You do not have to spray this on (but can if you choose to do so) sponging will be fine. So that you can see you have sealed all the Extra Concentrate Repair Dye the sealer will dry matt. Once applied and dried Extra Concentrate Repair Dye you have applied will turn from a gloss to a matt finish and it will also be sealed, meaning you are ok to touch it. The advantage of using a matt sealer is that once dry, it will show up areas of dye that you have not sealed as they will still be gloss in appearance. One full coverage of matt sealer will be enough

L. Now mix the finish colour you are looking to achieve with 30% water and filter into a clean container.
If you do not have filter paper then you can stretch some tights over a container and pour the dye through this.
The first coat of dye that you will apply will be light, you may not see much change but it’s what you cannot see that is the good part.
Dry the first coat and then on the second coat you can apply more dye. With lighter colours you will need to apply more coats than if you were applying darker colours. (remember this when ordering colours)
In-between each coat, dry with a hairdryer and repeat until you get a uniform finish.
Spraying dye is the best way to get a factory matt finish.

M. Leave the dye and leather to cool. Once cool, if you lightly rub your hand over the finished surface and it feels a little gritty then you can use some 800 wet and dry sand paper (use dry NOT wet) and lightly sand. Wipe the sanding dust off with a damp cloth, dry and apply one last coat.

*The dye MUST dry and cool before you sand with 800 grit. If you do this whilst still warm the dye can be removed.

N. If you want to add an extra layer of wear protection, then you can apply BL9 Super Matt sealer or for gloss BL10 Gloss sealer. Again, mix with 30% water and use the same technique as when applying the dye and we advise filtering the sealer. For a satin finish add small amounts of BL10 Gloss sealer with BL9 Super Matt until the desired finish is achieved.
For the ultimate in surface protection, you can use TCP (Top Coat Protection). A two-part mixture that must be applied within 3 hours of mixing. There is no need to filter TCP prior to spray application.

The advice given is guide of how we renovate interiors, the materials and techniques used. If you have any questions about dye application using spray please contact us.